One City Council member said he didn’t “have a strong sense in how operations are being handled.”
Another said a submitted five-year plan had “exorbitant” operating costs.
And one of the more vocal critics claimed the group was “out of touch with reality.”
Hemming Park is on course to receive $250,000 for a stage in the urban venue that’s often viewed as the front door to City Hall.
But, the two-day discourse council committees had to arrive at that decision this week veered past that immediate upgrade and often questioned the efforts and future of the nonprofit that’s been running the park since late 2014.
Friends of Hemming Park to date received $1 million for its first 18-month operational contract that began in October 2014.
It needs another $250,000 or so to make it through the rest of this fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, money the city set aside in a contingency to see how things were at this point in the year.
The plan shifted slightly with the advent of the stage — the focus moved to on the city’s $250,000 going toward the stage, while a $250,000 donation for the stage’s naming rights would come from Community First Credit Union. The business’s funds would go toward the Friends’ operations instead.
The switch didn’t detract council members from criticizing the Friends’ management, despite most of them agreeing the park is in better shape than before.
“I just don’t get the feeling they’re trying to pinch pennies over there,” said council member John Crescimbeni.
He said he was “very disappointed” with how the $1 million has been spent and questioned when it was time for council to “pull the plug” on funding the group.
Matt Schellenberg, who initially opposed the group’s contract, said he thought the money could be better spent elsewhere and the Friends’ proposed five-year plan was “out of touch with reality.”
The plan calls for an annual $500,000 city contribution along with more than $6 million in capital improvements.
The envisioned park transformation includes pulling up many of the hardscaped pavers and returning it to a mainly urban greenspace buoyed by an amphitheater and an antique carousel costing $1 million.
A coffee shop, reformatted fountain and Black Sheep kiosk also are part of the plan.
Council member Aaron Bowman said he couldn’t support that plan, calling costs “exorbitant.” It’s a nice park, he said, but the city has other needs, too.
There was at least one council member who came to the defense of the Friends: Reggie Gaffney, who represents the district. He said he’s met with the group several times and has seen good work being done. Furthermore, the group is trying to raise money to offset costs.
“It’s not easy in these economic times,” said Gaffney during the Monday finance committee. “All you can do is ask them to try.”
Friends CEO Vince Cavin heard the discussions and criticisms and offered some defense.
To date, he said, the group has raised $450,000 — money that comes from concessions, donors, sponsors and grants. More than $340,000 was raised the first year, when the contract called for $250,000 to hit its city funding marks.
Of the $250,000 that would go toward operations this year, he expects $50,000 or so to roll over into next year as the group identifies more sponsors and donors for events when programming begins fully in March.
Cavin said there are sponsors “at the table ready to go” once the stage comes up. It’s expected to be done by March 31.
As for the ongoing contribution from the city, Cavin said public funding often goes toward iconic parks such as Hemming in other cities.
In all, more than half a dozen council members voiced concerns of some form about the group, its performance and the future.
That will have to be a decision for another day, though.
Funding the Friends will be up to Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration and the council.
Mike Weinstein, Curry’s chief financial officer, was non-committal this week when council asked if the Friends operating budget was part of Curry’s plan for the coming fiscal year.
The mayor’s budget process began Monday, Weinstein said, and “it is totally unknown” about the Friends at this point because the group hasn’t gotten to that point yet.
But, he said departments have been told to submit flat budgets given the increasing pension costs that are sapping the city’s budget. Every revenue increase the city receives will probably go toward that, said Weinstein.
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